The Linnorm Kingdoms

The caravan returns

The caravan I was traveling with returned today. It is good to be back home, the journey was pleasant though boring. I was itching for something to sink my axe into. Coming into the city we found it being attacked by a force from Irrisen. I was ready to go to the wall and help defend it, but alas was told I needed to stay and keep the caravaners safe. Needless to say this irked me. I must do my duty though, and that will not always be fighting. I know that sometimes my duties to the Blackravens will require me to let others do the fighting while I perform other important duties. I do not have to like it though. While keeping this caravan protected at Trollheim Keep, I kept the crowd calm with an impressive display of my battle prowess. We were soon alerted to a fire in the city. Knowing that the defenders would be busy on the walls, I had no choice but to rush to the site of the fire. Upon arriving my companions and I found wintermites around the burning buildings. Finally, something I could lay my steel into. Those pests were quickly dispatched, but the real threat was in a building nearby. Some of my companions made it into the building before me, and when I made my way in I saw an elf. Apparently this man was known to the Blackravens as Glaussen. Rushing into the battle, I was able to land one hit, but his counter was more than I could handle. The next thing I knew I was being healed by Kragni Bronzebeard. I was told there was some sort of alchemical brew that was lighting the fires in the buildings. My guess would be that the attack on the city was only a distraction so these fires could be set. After the battle with the elf, I helped put out the fire, and then returned to Trollheim Keep with Bjorn. I gave a report of what happened to Freyr. I was then asked to gather the companions that helped me and see if they would lend their assistance to the Blackravens. I set out to find those who fought with me. The rat merchant, Tau, I found in the inn called the Hag’s Toe, and he said that he would be willing to work for pay. I found the odd sorceror, Grine, at the site where we fought the elf, sleeping in a pickle barrel. Upon hearing my request he said he only wished to help. I had to track the Mammoth lord, Tam Tam, through the city. I found him on the opposite side of the river. He said he would think on my request. I joined in the celebration the rest of the night.

the baiting of the trolls

I rose in the morning to my normal routine. I went out to train in the morning, and by the time I returned those I had fought with earlier had arrived to see Freyr. Freyr told them that he had need of capable adventurers such as them and asked if they would be willing to help out. We were all told that there were some leftovers from the host that Irrisen had sent against the city and it was requested that we go and hunt down some trolls before they caused too much trouble. There was no doubt that I would go out on this mission, but the others also came along. There was also a bard who seemed to want to follow us, not to fight, but to write down our tale. Whatever. When we left we headed across the river using the ferry. Heading north on the road out of town we came to a farm that Freyr had suggested we stop at. The farmers were friends of Freyr and gave us information on where we might look for trolls. There were two sites that were suggested, and we set off at once. A few hours on the road and we found signs of a troll. The trail didn’t last long, so we just headed in the direction of some hills that were the first site. We found a small cave opening that seemed a likely hiding spot. I moved up to the mouth silently, and when Tam Tam tried to follow some rocks fell into the cave. I could hear something in the cave, so we set up around the cave and tried to call it out. There was a response to our voices in a language I don’t know, but the bard that was with us spoke up saying that she could understand and speak to it. With her translating I told the troll what I thought of it and how a real troll wouldn’t hide in a cave. Eventually the troll emerged, but as I figured it was not much of a match. It couldn’t even hit me. After making short work of the first troll, I went into the cave to see if there were any remains or what it may have been hiding. I found an old chest that ended up having a couple hundred old coins. I then set us on track to the other area it was suggested we check. After some hours of travel we came upon a small wooded area, and heard voices speaking in what the bard told us was the same language the last troll was using. Seeing a small rise off to one side, I set a trap for the trolls. My companions went up onto the small rise, and I started tromping through the woods and tricked these other trolls into believing I was alone. A troll, bigger than the last one, came upon me, falling into the trap. My companions quickly set upon it, though this one put up much more of a fight. It also had a companion that circled around and got to Grine. This bigger troll did manage to land one hit on me, and a few on Tam Tam. We found some treasure on these trolls, but no more than would be expected. We returned to town victorious, having killed three trolls. All were impressed by the exploits of my companions and I. There was more celebration that night in honor of our accomplishment. At some point in the night Freyr offered two of my companions the black cloak. He also implied that I may be getting my full cloak soon as well. I also declared myself a new name that night, Skjold Troll-Bait, seeing as I had baited the trolls into attacking me and they were barely able to hit me.